diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/groups.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/groups.py
index 089ec71c8..f762dbfa9 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/groups.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/groups.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class GroupServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, group_id):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         group_description = yield self.groups_handler.get_group_profile(
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class GroupSummaryServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, group_id):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         get_group_summary = yield self.groups_handler.get_group_summary(
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class GroupCategoryServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, group_id, category_id):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         category = yield self.groups_handler.get_group_category(
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class GroupCategoriesServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, group_id):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         category = yield self.groups_handler.get_group_categories(
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ class GroupRoleServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, group_id, role_id):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         category = yield self.groups_handler.get_group_role(
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ class GroupRolesServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, group_id):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         category = yield self.groups_handler.get_group_roles(
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ class GroupRoomServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, group_id):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         result = yield self.groups_handler.get_rooms_in_group(group_id, requester_user_id)
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ class GroupUsersServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, group_id):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         result = yield self.groups_handler.get_users_in_group(group_id, requester_user_id)
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ class PublicisedGroupsForUserServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, user_id):
-        yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
 
         result = yield self.groups_handler.get_publicised_groups_for_user(
             user_id
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ class PublicisedGroupsForUsersServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request):
-        yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
 
         content = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
         user_ids = content["user_ids"]
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@ class GroupsForUserServlet(RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request):
-        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         result = yield self.groups_handler.get_joined_groups(requester_user_id)